Urgent communication: how to keep your business communicating during the Covid-19 crisis

Urgent Communication: how to keep your business communicating during the Covid-19 crisis

The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses has been well-documented in recent weeks, as organisations adapt to a downturn in activity by scaling back operations. But what about the psychological impact of the outbreak on employees and businesses as a whole? Those intangible emotions and sensibilities that unlike numbers on a spreadsheet can’t be measured; and instead rely on effective communication and strong leadership.

Lockdown measures designed to control the spread of the virus have forced millions of people around the world to work from home, transforming the way businesses operate overnight. Consequently, remote working has gone from being a growing trend that fits in with employees’ lifestyles, to a fulltime requirement they must adapt to.

With physical workplace interactions – from formal meetings to casual discussions – no longer an option, the type and amount of communication we have with colleagues has become a major concern for businesses during these challenging times. Having these social relationships snatched away from us by the current situation can have a detrimental impact on employee’s mental health if left unaccounted for.

As a decision-maker, it’s your responsibility to facilitate effective channels of communication between employees and provide critical information about your strategy for managing the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.

For example, tools are available that enable your business to communicate remotely, such as Microsoft Teams. This communication and collaboration platform contains an intuitive feature that allows users to schedule and produce live events that stream to large online audiences. By ensuring employees can stay in touch with one another while at home, and keeping them updated with relevant information, your business will be able to overcome the psychological challenges that have been thrust upon it.